2025 Yale College Speech Competition

The 2025 Yale College Speech Competition is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors according to the categories below. Top prize in each category is $1000, with prizes of $500 & $250 for second and third place.

The competition will take place on Monday, April 28. After you sign up, you’ll be assigned a two-hour block between 9am and 5pm on April 28; you must be available for the entire two hours. Please use this link to sign up by Monday, April 21, 11.59pm

All speeches must be original works created by the student and they must be delivered from notes or recited from memory. They must be between 5-8 minutes long; longer or shorter speeches will be disqualified. No visual or audio aids are permitted as part of the oration.

Rules for each category are listed here:

• The Buck-Jacks on Prize: Awarded to a Sophomore for the best original oration on a subject of a patriotic nature. [Note that this does not need to be on an American subject.]
• The Henry James TenEyck Prize: Awarded to orators among the Junior Class on a subject of the speaker's choice.
• The David C. DeForest Prize & Townsend Premiums: For the Senior[s] "who shall write and pronounce an English oration in the best manner." [Note that there are no special requirements for an "English oration."]

Goodluck and feel free to reach out to Alfred Guy, if you have any questions.

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